Comment by chethan — December 7, 2006 @ 3:19 pm
self destruction is how human race is going to come to an end.
Comment by Rajesh Dangi — December 7, 2006 @ 5:03 pm
like the post and the pictures, specially the forest streams one.
this indeed a grim reality that aforestation and impact being totally ignored, importance of these suttle changes are not even on the nations agenda as everyone seems to be busy fighting over quota bills and religions…
too sad!
Comment by Anonymous — December 7, 2006 @ 5:36 pm
The grim reality you describe has not been caused by tea estates in the Nilgiris anymore than it has by tea estates in any producing country and region on earth. First, most of the in India like that of the tea everywhere on earth is not grown on estates. It is grown by smallholder farmers surrounding the tea factories who supply the factories with raw leaf. This brings great financial benefits to the smallholder and ensures the protection of a vital rural economy in India. Second, camelia sinenses is factually an evergreen tree, thus protecting the biodiversity. On the issue of water flow, you are correct. In India as elsewhere, agricultrual production of staple crops like wheat (or tea or sugar) requires water redirection to flow to its best agronomic advantage to support the crops. The water doesn’t “disappear” from its original route – it merely is redirected to nourish the crops that are growing within that original route and those lands thus remain as strongly nourished by water as ever. If one takes tea to task for destroying biodiversity, not only is it an incorrect statement factually, with respect, but it also means that one must point one’s finger at Indian crops like wheat and sugar. The agronomy of tea is an ancient art which ensures the maintenance of biodiversity of the forest floor. We cannot however say the same about certain other crops like timber farms. Those are the facts. There is a world-famous tea factory right in Waynad named Orchid which has won global prizes for its contribution to the internal economy of India and its going out of its way to protect biodiversity in that medium elevation area of the Nilgiris to which you refer.
Comment by Kiran — December 8, 2006 @ 1:41 pm
Rotterdarned,
The fact that forest (and other fauna) destruction is OK when its in the interests of humans is a very human-centric view of development.While that can be argued about till the cows come home, the discussion about water was that forests act as a natural sponge, releasing water long after the monsoons are over. This is not accomplished by other crops, tea, sugar or rice. Moreover, crops like wheat do not generally come up in the often hilly ,forested area of the western ghats.
Well researched piece, Arun. Sadly our generation is so far removed from the outdoors that it does’nt know the difference between a forest and anything else that looks green.
Comment by mansi — December 14, 2006 @ 6:05 am
I am not so sure about soil erosion as tea plantation is also very dense and rain water would be slowed down before it reaches ground. Did you refer to any study/research on this subject? If yes, can you post the link here.
Comment by Arun — December 14, 2006 @ 4:43 pm
Mansi, I did not refer to any links or research on the internet. Whatever I have written are things I have known from years of reading books and articles here and there.
But I just checked – searching for “tea plantations and soil erosion” gives you sufficient results. Try that out.
Comment by Avi L-S — December 18, 2006 @ 7:56 pm
man this is horrible. someone should do something about the environment.
avi
avi-reviews.blogspot.com
Comment by organics — March 26, 2008 @ 11:02 am
Nice blogs but I don’t think that due to tea plantation all these problems are created.If u are really concerned about the protection of our earth still there are many places where one can grow plant.Anyways something new to here.If anybody wants to know something more about tea u can fill free to scroll my website http://mytealogic.com/
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